Politico

With help from Shawn Ness

New from New York

Happening now:

• The Legislature is back. And no, there isn’t a budget deal.
• What lawmakers think of Rebecca Lobo’s comments about Albany.
• Republicans hosted an antisemitism awareness rally.
• A ban on ‘dry’ towns?

DAYS THE BUDGET IS LATE: 2

WILL BUDGET BEAT OUT ECLIPSE?: The stars are aligning — and that’s good or bad news for the budget, depending on who you ask.

Well, actually, it’s just one star (the sun) that’s set to line up with the moon on Monday. And the celestial event could be too much for some lawmakers to bear while balancing budget negotiations. Some are asking whether they should even have session on Monday.

“I've heard a lot of people wanting to not meet” during the eclipse, Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, a Brooklyn Democrat, said.

“It’s not just lawmakers saying that. There’s lots of people asking the same thing — everybody wants to be out,” state Sen. Roxanne Persaud, a Brooklyn Democrat, quipped.

On Monday, Playbook wrote how Gov. Kathy Hochul blamed the now-two-days late budget on the Easter Bunny: “If you did not have Easter Sunday being the deadline, I think we could have met it. I really do,” she said.

Now, there’s grumblings that Monday’s eclipse warrants another day off.

Why? It’s a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon and large gatherings are a good way for the members to score points with constituents if they are back home with them rather than plugging away on an already late state budget.

But Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins spoke with Playbook and shot that idea down, for now: “The plan so far is to be here on Monday.” And Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie: “We may have to go look at it on the roof.”

Another lawmaker, state Sen. Andrew Gounardes, was firm in his prediction: The eclipse will come and go before a budget deal is reached.

“Maybe seeing the eclipse will inspire us to get this job done,” he said. And state Sen. Liz Krueger opined: “Maybe there's some magic to [the eclipse and budget] being born together.”

But forget outer space.

The delaying power of religious holidays could also factor in the budget timeline. Lawmakers plan to take off for Eid on April 10 and 11. And Passover means there won’t be any session at all during the third week of April.

So even if the lawmakers hold a session during eclipse day, there are six days of session left of April after tomorrow to make a deal.

“I fully believe we will get this done in the month of April,” Stewart-Cousins told Playbook. — Jason Beeferman

OH, ALBANY: Former WNBA star and ESPN TV analyst Rebecca Lobo’s aggression against New York’s capital city won’t stand.

Lobo trashed the town, which was hosting parts of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, for not having a lot to do. Lobo would later back track in a post on Instagram.

For Albanians, historically a sensitive group whenever out-of-towners mock Smallbany, the damage was already done. War Room Tavern owner and PR man Todd Shapiro was so incensed he called for the city’s bars and restaurants to cancel their ESPN subscriptions.

But what about the people who have to travel to Albany six months out of the year? Playbook did a (very) informal poll of state lawmakers who agreed Lobo committed a foul.

“There are so many great things to do in Albany,” Rochester Democratic state Sen. Jeremy Cooney said. “In fact, Albany is the center of the universe. You can get anywhere you want from Albany in like three hours. You can go to the Adirondacks.”

State Sen. John Mannion, a Democrat from the basketball-crazy Syracuse area who was elected four years ago, said he’s never been bored, noting Albany has a proliferation of Irish bars.

“I’ve found there’s a lot to do when my family comes down,” he said. “We make sure we partake in different arts activities or enjoy the restaurants.”

Bronx Sen. Gustavo Rivera, an established connoisseur of Albany’s karaoke offerings, acknowledged Lobo’s comment made on a Monday night may have been a bit understandable.

“She might be right about Mondays,” Rivera, a Democrat, said. “There are a lot of places closed on Monday.”

But he defended the food options, many of which are within walking distance of the Capitol.

“There’s actually really good food choices here in Albany,” he said. “Savoy Taproom. The Delaware. Copper Crow. Rain is a good one on a Friday night, too. Most of the places I walk to are the ones that I love.” — Nick Reisman

ISRAELI HOSTAGES: The Republican conference held a bipartisan rally to show support for all hostages in Hamas captivity to be released and to raise awareness of a rise in antisemitism.

“We are the indigenous people,” GOP Assemblymember Ari Brown, a Jewish lawmaker from Long Island, said. “And these are our children that are held hostage today. They must be set free.”

The legislators and activists who attended were led in a prayer for peace by a local Jewish community leader.

“They should be returned to their families. If they are dead, their bodies should be returned to their families, so that we can pay their respects so that we can say goodbye,” Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt said at the event.

State Sen. Jack Martins, a Republican from Long Island, said he wants to hold those that do not show support to Israel accountable. Several Democrats from across the state also attended the event.

“Those who will not support the efforts of bringing these hostages home, let's hold them accountable. As New Yorkers, as warriors, as the people who are called on to do more than just talk, let's come together,” Martins said. — Shawn Ness

HEASTIE ON HOUSING: Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said certain tweaks to the 2019 rent-regulation reforms are on the table in budget talks, but said the changes being considered will not go as far as “rolling back” the laws.

Specifically, lawmakers are looking at changes to how much landlords can raise rents after making apartment improvements — allowances that were significantly curtailed in the 2019 reforms.

“Individual apartment improvements has been raised at the table,” Heastie told reporters Tuesday.

“The question of trying to get the apartments that have not been put back online because, I’d say, the landlords don’t want to spend the money to put the apartments back online. Those are the type of questions we’re having, but rolling back 2019 — no.”

Real estate groups have been pushing more significant changes to the rent reforms, but that effort has faced staunch pushback from tenant groups and left-leaning legislators.

But lawmakers appear open to considering more modest tweaks — if they come as part of a larger package that also bolsters tenant protections.

The Senate’s one-house resolution, for example, said the body’s Democratic majority is “open to further discussing raising the current cap on individual apartment improvements (IAIs) as part of a comprehensive housing package that includes the core principles of Good Cause Eviction.” — Janaki Chadha

BUDGET DANCE: The mayor expressed an interest in nixing all of his proposed budget cuts today.

His comments came during a press briefing where Adams was asked about a report from the City Council that argued there is enough money in the budget to completely undo the spending reductions mandated by City Hall.

“I pray to God every day that they found a pot of money that can resolve the budget issues,” Adams said. “We don’t want to make cuts. We do not want to take away services. And if … when they sit down with [the budget director], they have a way to do this, we are open to hearing that.”

The Council identified north of $6 billion of unaccounted-for resources in the upcoming budget that could be used to reverse cuts, end a looming fiscal cliff and add to the city’s reserves. — Joe Anuta

SCHOOLS CHIEF IN ALBANY: Schools Chancellor David Banks traveled to Albany today to persuade state lawmakers to let Mayor Eric Adams continue running the school system.

Banks met with state Sen. John Liu, who heads the Senate’s New York City Education Committee, as well as Assembly Education Chair Michael Benedetto and Senate Education Chair Shelley Mayer among others. He’s meeting with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Stewart-Cousins this afternoon.

“We think that the mayor, Eric Adams, in many ways has earned to be able to have an extension of this,” Banks told reporters during a gaggle. “We’ve been delivering for New Yorkers, and we want to continue to do that work.”

Banks also testified before legislators in Albany earlier this year.

The visit comes as lawmakers and Hochul continue to hammer out details of the final budget. State education officials are also expected to release their long-awaited report on mayoral control early next week. (They requested and received an extension from the Legislature, according to a spokesperson).

Banks told reporters he’s “anxiously awaiting” to see the report. He insisted the study is not just a reflection of public hearings officials held citywide but a “historical perspective” on mayoral control.

Lawmakers have also said they will consider how Adams approaches a state law mandating lower class sizes as they deliberate on mayoral control. But Banks insisted the two won’t be tied.

“I think mayoral control… in many ways stands on its own because it’s broader than any one particular issue,” he said, adding that class size is “a hot topic right now.” — Madina Touré and Nick Reisman

SENATE MOVES TO BAN DRY TOWNS: The state Senate’s Investigation and Government Operations Committee advanced a bill today that would allow the sale of alcohol in New York’s dry towns.

“The restaurants and potential bars and other on-premises establishments and liquor stores that would want to do business in these towns, they are implicitly looking at us to do business in these communities,” said state Sen. James Skoufis, the committee’s Democratic chair.

Towns and cities are allowed to ban alcohol sales via referendums. A few have ended their local prohibitions in recent years, meaning there are only six remaining completely dry places — the largest being the 2,200 town of Caneadea in Allegany County — though a few dozen others have rules that limit alcohol to places like hotels.

“It’s a vestige, as are a lot of our Alcoholic Beverage Control laws, of Prohibition-era ridiculousness,” Skoufis said. — Bill Mahoney

NEW CENTRAL HUDSON CEO: The utility serving more than 300,000 electric customers and 84,000 natural gas customers in the Hudson Valley announced a new CEO today.

Stephanie Raymond will take over as president and transition into the full president and CEO role in October once Chris Capone retires.

Capone took over, postponing his retirement, after the board ousted Charles Freni as CEO last year. Freni’s tenure ended abruptly amid fallout from billing issues at the utility that sparked public outcry and an investigation and action by state regulators.

Raymond was most recently the CEO of PPL Electric Utilities Corporation, a Pennsylvania utility serving 1.4 million electric customers. Raymond was there for more than a decade in various roles after working in telecommunications. She left PPL in September 2023 after the utility dealt with its own major billing issues.

Central Hudson highlighted Raymond’s efforts to improve grid reliability and customer satisfaction scores. The search committee was aware of the billing issues that were “effectively resolved” during Raymond’s tenure, said spokesperson Joe Jenkins.

“Her experience leading and managing through those challenges was viewed as a strength,” Jenkins said. “Central Hudson’s billing system is currently performing at levels similar or better than its previous system and we believe Stephanie’s experience in this area will help us continue to rebuild trust with our customers as we move forward.”  — Marie J. French

CLIMATE SUPERFUND: A collection of environmental justice groups held a rally in the Capitol today to urge Hochul to support a $3 billion climate superfund paid by big oil corporations.

The bill would also include $1 billion for disadvantaged communities that have been hit by flooding and extreme heat.

“It’s the trust that is given to us that we have to take care of it [the Earth]. We have to deliver it to our students,” Sohaib Chekima, a professor at Union College, said during the event.

“We believe that God created us on this Earth as its custodians, not the owners. We act as if this is ours. We are privileged. The governor has to understand the leadership position is not one of privilege, it’s a responsibility that she’s assumed.” — Shawn Ness

— Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called on the Department of Justice to go after retail thieves under the RICO act. (State of Politics)

— The man accused of murdering an NYPD officer has been indicted with murder in a Queens court. (Newsday)

— Turkey’s consul general sent a letter to the state Senate Finance Committee urging them not to commemorate the end of a major conflict in Cyprus. (Times Union)

With help from Shawn Ness

New from New York

Happening now:

• Gov. Kathy Hochul knocks Trump on abortion rights.
• Lawmakers leave, again, without a budget deal.
• Randall’s Island has been safe for migrants, Adams said.
• Protesters arrested outside of Hochul’s office. 

DAYS THE BUDGET IS LATE: 9

HOCHUL TALKS ABORTION RIGHTS: Gov. Kathy Hochul continued her efforts this morning to help to keep President Joe Biden in the White House, targeting Donald Trump’s recent comments about abortion rights.

“How do you know when Donald Trump is lying? When his lips are moving,” Hochul quipped this morning on MSNBC’s Morning Joe.

The governor gave her first reaction to former President Donald Trump’s announcement Monday that he supports leaving the issue of abortion up to the states.

Hochul vowed on the morning show that Trump’s announcement will be “a jolt for the election” and a win for Biden.

“We could say ‘What day was the election really lost [for Trump]?'” Hochul said. “It may just have been the day that the solar eclipse occurred.”

Hochul has increasingly taken on the role of a Biden surrogate in recent months as she continues to trumpet a pro-Biden message on CNN and MSNBC. Her ascendant support of the president’s reelection bid also comes as Mayor Eric Adams — the self-proclaimed “Biden of Brooklyn" — has faded from the president’s embrace.

“We won't know for sure exactly by what margins, but this is a big boost for Joe Biden,” the state’s first woman governor said of Trump's abortion stance. “Trump fell into this. He should have kept his mouth shut because now he's antagonizing everybody.”

Trump’s Monday announcement suggests he won’t pursue a national abortion ban if elected, but the former president didn’t rule out signing one, either. He also did not say where he stands on other efforts to limit access to the abortion pill, mifepristone.

Hochul’s comments slamming Trump — she added that he’s “indicted himself in the eyes of women all over America” — comes as New York’s own version of the Equal Rights Amendment, which aims to enshrine reproductive rights in the state, is on the ballot in November.

“Every state, the record is there,” Hochul said. “When people have a chance to voice their position on abortion, they stand with the women — unlike Donald Trump.” — Jason Beeferman

SO LONG, BUT NOT FOR LONG: They’re leaving town, but they’re coming back.

Lawmakers won’t be meeting Wednesday for Eid al-Fitr, a fast-breaking holiday celebrated at the end of Ramadan, amid a late state budget for the fiscal year that started April 1.

“We expect an extender to be passed on Thursday,” Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins told reporters, adding that the extender will run until Tuesday of next week.

The Assembly, on the other hand, will meet on Friday week to pass the extender as the sides remain undecided over the $233 billion spending plan that includes measures to address the state’s housing shortage and address retail theft.

After passing the extender on Thursday, Stewart-Cousins doesn’t expect senators to return until the start of next week: “We are at the beginning of the end, but the end is hard.” she said.

The leader has used that phrase before. On April 19 2023, Stewart-Cousins said lawmakers were at "the beginning of the end” of the budget process.

It took 13 days from that point to final passage. This year, the sides are poised to recess starting April 18 for two weeks because of Passover — so a goal is to get a deal before then, but the days are ticking away toward meeting that goal. — Jason Beeferman

HOUSING LACK OF DEALS: As the budget is now nine days late, progressive groups are still protesting to get their wants included in the budget, including a deal to ensure affordable housing.

Eight protesters were arrested outside of the governor’s office in the Capitol during a rally this afternoon.

“Economic and social mobility depends on a government, depends on leadership like [Assembly Speaker Carl] Heastie and [Senate Majority Leader] Andrea Stewart-Cousins to hold a powerful executive like Gov. Hochul, who's moving out of step with the vast majority of New Yorkers, to hold her accountable,” said Jawanza James Williams, a director at VOCAL New York.

“We need those two conferences, the Assembly and the Senate, to actually represent the people that put them there.”

What does that mean? For them, it’s getting the good cause eviction measure to protect tenant rights and the Housing Access Voucher program included in the state’s budget in a bid to help fight homelessness.

They also want to tax the rich and large corporations.

Cea Weaver, the coalition director at Housing Justice for All, said that it seems that Hochul seems to be more willing to meet with real estate executives and campaign donors than renters.

“I think we have been quite clear for months that we are not married to every crossed T or dotted I in our bill,” said Weaver, who was among those arrested. — Shawn Ness

SKIRMISH SURPRISE: Mayor Eric Adams said he “would have never predicted” how infrequently skirmishes occur on Randall’s Island, where the city is sheltering about 3,000 migrants under conditions he called “inhumane.”

“Three thousand people are placed into an environment — many of them are young — and told ‘You can’t do anything all day but sit there for the whole day,’” the mayor said today during an off-topic news conference. “I’m amazed at how well they’re doing.”

Randall’s Island has drawn headlines in recent months for violence among the migrants sheltered there, and Adams in January promised a “complete analysis” of the site’s safety precautions.

Today, he told reporters: “Evidently, we’re doing the right thing” by implementing security measures like metal detectors and curfews.

“We’re not seeing skirmishes hop up all the time,” Adams said. “We’re seeing just the opposite. We’re seeing people saying, ‘We want to wait so we can finally get our crack at the American dream.’” — Irie Sentner

SILENT TREATMENT: Adams declined to answer multiple questions today related to revelations that federal authorities are looking into free flight upgrades he accepted from Turkish Airlines and the city’s retention of a celebrity defense lawyer to represent the mayor in a sexual harassment case.

On Friday, a report in The New York Times indicated investigators from the FBI and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York are looking at whether a Turkish Airlines executive vaulted Adams to the highest passenger status offered by the carrier, which is partially owned by the Turkish government’s sovereign wealth fund.

Additionally, City Hall has retained the services of Alex Spiro, who has in the past represented Elon Musk, Jay-Z and Alec Baldwin, in a sexual harassment case.

Adams, who has not been accused of wrongdoing by prosecutors and is facing the sexual harassment case in civil court, declined to go into details about either subject, saying that his legal team is handling the cases while he tends to the everyday business of governing.

“I've said this over and over again — I follow the laws,” Adams said at a press briefing when asked about details of the federal probe being publicized.

“I have great attorneys. My job is to run the city. They are to run the review. I am pleased with my attorneys, what they’re doing. And the process is going to take its course.” — Joe Anuta

CAUCUS PUSHES ON ENERGY ISSUES: Ensuring affordability while taking bold steps to address the climate crisis which disproportionately impacts many communities they represent is a priority for the NYS Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus.

Assemblymember Michaelle Solages, a Democrat from Nassau County and chair of the influential caucus, laid out some of the ways lawmakers could support those goals in an interview last month with Playbook.

The central question facing policymakers is how to fund the state’s climate efforts while preventing unpalatable costs for consumers.

“There are a lot of groups I see that are saying these laws are hurting New Yorkers. They're costing too much. And it's unfortunate because the cost of the climate crisis is already high in so many communities, including communities of color,” Solages said.

“We have high rates of asthma. When flooding happens, we can't afford to rebuild, and so we get displaced. And so at the end of the day, the cost is so high. We need to ensure that we're being smart about the transition, but also not afraid of being bold.”

Solages said the caucus supports the Climate Change Superfund measure, which seeks to charge fossil fuel companies for historical emissions from the fuels they sold, and a low-carbon fuel standard for the transportation sector.

Some environmental justice groups oppose the clean fuel standard, questioning whether it would ensure emissions reduction quickly for the communities they advocate for.

Solages sees it as a beneficial policy for heavy-duty vehicles that will be on the roads for years to come with less impact on individual consumers.

“It won't cost the ratepayers at the end of the day,” Solages said. The low-carbon fuel standard in California has added to gas prices, although proponents argue there’s not a significant correlation between low-carbon fuel credit costs and gasoline costs.

The NY HEAT, the legislative measure to cap energy bills as a percent of income, would end subsidies for new gas hookups and expand the Public Service Commission’s authority to decommission parts of the gas system, is also a caucus priority.

Solages said they’re urging some type of compromise or resolution to get it passed. The issue hasn’t yet been resolved in budget negotiations.

“This is the time that we need to just urge our leadership to be brave about the climate crisis and look at ways that we can ensure that we are transitioning to electric, but also not creating a disadvantaged situation for the ratepayers,” Solages said.

The caucus is also supportive of the $200 million for low-income ratepayers to help with utility bills. They also back more funding for electric school buses to help districts with the up-front expenses. — Marie J. French

— An appellate court rejected Trump’s efforts to delay his hush-money trial. (POLITICO)

— The Inspector General’s Office is investigating the Adirondack Park Agency. What they are looking for is not yet clear. (Times Union)

— A school in Brooklyn is experimenting with a 12-hour school day. (The New York Times)

‘Draconian’: Arizona Dems rage after abortion ruling

lead image

With help from Shawn Ness

New from New York

Happening now:

• Gov. Kathy Hochul talks about the abortion pill.
• Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie gives a budget update.
• The effort is underway for a new anti-flavored vape bill.
• A small-scale solar industry is pushing for a new tax. 
• Democratic lawmakers want to raise taxes on the ultra-wealthy.

HOCHUL’S MIFEPRISTONE WARNING: The pending Supreme Court decision on the abortion pill mifepristone could have dire consequences for blue state voters, Gov. Kathy Hochul warned this morning on MSNBC.

Hochul’s “Morning Joe” hit represented a renewed dose of urgency Democrats are trying to impart to voters this election season as the party tries to harness concerns over abortion rights.

The governor and New York Democrats have long railed against red state measures meant to restrict access to abortion and other reproductive services. The criticism has always followed with a caveat that the state’s strong abortion laws provide a bulwark against whatever a socially conservative state might do.

After the 2021 Supreme Court decision striking down Roe v. Wade, abortion policy went back to statehouses across the country. New York and other Democratic-dominated states moved to bolster access to the procedure; officials in Republican-controlled states sought to restrict it.

But the case centering around mifepristone could be different, Hochul told the “Morning Joe” panel. The court today for 90 minutes heard arguments in a case stemming from an effort to bar access to the abortion pill; a decision is expected in June.

“If the Supreme Court doesn't overturn the decision of an unmedically trained judge in Texas, we need to understand that this is not just going to affect the red states,” Hochul said. “This is something that I will not be able to stop.”

Hochul touted the 150,000 doses of abortion medication that has been stockpiled in the state. She has also set aside $35 million to aid abortion services and people coming from outside of New York to have the procedure.

Democrats want to keep their base engaged on the abortion issue. In New York, voters this November will determine whether to add an amendment meant to enshrine a broad array of rights in the state constitution, including access to abortion.

The vote over the amendment could give Democrats a turnout boost and aid down-ballot candidates for the party along the way. The state is home to a half-dozen swing seats in the House.

“I'm going to tell you this — don't underestimate the rage of women in this country,” Hochul said in the interview.

Still, Republicans and people opposed to abortion have scoffed at the Democratic strategy to center the election around the issue. They argue it’s meant to distract voters from concerns surrounding crime, inflation and the migrant crisis in New York.

“Basically they’ve got to counter very legitimate arguments we have on public safety, let alone the quality of life concerns,” Conservative Party chairperson Gerard Kassar told Playbook.

Polls have shown voters in New York have persistent worries over crime, which Republican candidates have used effectively in elections over the last two years.

“It’s going to be incumbent on people who really understand what’s going on in New York to push back on this and she, in turn, has got to be hopeful that she can overcome what are, in my view, very serious current issues affecting people every day,” Kassar said. — Nick Reisman

HEASTIE ON THE BUDGET: Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie just gave an update on budget talks ahead of the Sunday deadline for an on-time deal.

“Sometimes in the budget, you might be in a different galaxy,” Heastie said. “I don’t know if we’re in the same country yet, but at least we’re on the same planet on most of the big issues.”

Here’s what he said on the big issues:

On housing, which is still being discussed “in the context of the budget: ” "Nothing’s settled. I think there’s a path, I think there’s an understanding. There’s a lot of pieces to the housing plan, but I’m cautiously optimistic…There is an understanding that tenant protections has to be part of anything."

On whether taxes might be raised on the rich despite Hochul’s opposition: "As I’ve always said, as long as we feel comfortable that everything that we feel is on the shopping list can be covered, I think we’ll be OK."

On social media regulation: "That’s on the table. The staff is talking about that."

On whether there will be an “examination” of school funding formulas: "I think yes, the formula hasn’t been updated in 17 years. So I do think, and particularly using census data from two censuses ago, so I think it’s only right… But we always want to make sure that the school districts have the resources they need."

On whether there will be an extender on Thursday: "I don’t think we need to deal with an extender on Thursday. We may have to deal with that on Tuesday. But if you start to say ‘extender,’ you’re admitting we can’t get it done … I don’t know if we’ll finish on Thursday, but this is the 10th budget I’m negotiating. I probably feel the most best, if that makes sense, this year than I have in any of the previous years." — Bill Mahoney

NO MORE FLAVORED VAPES: Two lawmakers want to close the loopholes that allow for retailers to sell flavored vapes four years after legislation was passed that banned the sale of flavored vapes.

“Big Tobacco owns most of the vaping companies that we've seen, and they've been trying to get kids and have been successful at getting kids hooked on vaping because of their fun flavors. They use cartoons, other advertising techniques to lure in young people,” Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, a Manhattan Democrat, one of the bill’s sponsors said at the news conference.

Across the state, nearly 19 percent of high schoolers vaped during 2022, and 90 percent of vapers use flavored vapes.

“Every year, 46,000 people in New York state are diagnosed with tobacco-related cancers, and every year we lose another 19,000 New Yorkers to tobacco-related cancers. Despite this, the tobacco industry is seemingly still hell-bent on getting our children hooked onto their dangerous products,” state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, the Senate sponsor of the bill, said as he held up two popular vape products.

The sponsors said that when the 2020 ban was passed, they did not know how much of a challenge it would be to actually enforce it. They believe that this bill would “give teeth” to the enforcers once again.

The bill would prohibit the sale, inventory upkeep, packaging, processing and shipping of flavored vape products. — Shawn Ness

ADAMS DEFENDS AIDE: Tim Pearson, a top aide to Mayor Eric Adams, is still working after a city worker sued him for sexual harassment because he deserves due process, Adams said today.

“It’s due process. That’s the cornerstone of our country,” Adams said at a wide-ranging press conference, adding that Pearson was a first responder at the World Trade Center on 9/11, and so “is due due process.”

Other staffers haven’t gotten the same privilege as Pearson, who is a longtime personal friend of the mayor. Senior adviser Winnie Greco is being placed on unpaid leave after her homes were raided by the FBI in an apparent straw donor investigation. Greco has not been accused of any crime. Similarly, Rana Abbasova was put on leave from her International Affairs role after her home was raided, despite no charges being filed.

And this wasn’t Pearson’s first scandal — the Department of Investigation is reviewing his role in a scuffle at a migrant shelter, where eyewitnesses suggested he was the instigator.

Adams said he hasn’t spoken with Pearson since the suit was filed on Thursday.

The mayor will get no-cost representation by the city’s Law Department for the suit accusing him of sexual assault and retaliation in 1993. The city’s top lawyer, Corporation Counsel Sylvia Hinds-Radix, said her office was still determining whether Pearson and the other defendants, including NYPD Chief of Department Jeff Maddrey, will get the same.

Last month, Adams brushed off concerns about his idea to deport immigrants accused of serious crimes, saying, “They didn't give due process to the person that they shot or punched or killed.” He then backtracked and said he wasn’t trying to remove due process rights. — Jeff Coltin

SOLAR TAX BOOST PUSH: The state’s small-scale solar industry is pressing for a larger tax incentive that would also benefit people without tax liabilities.

Lawmakers, including Senate Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Pete Harckham and Assemblymember Latrice Walker, joined solar industry officials and environmental advocates pushing for inclusion of the proposal in the budget.

“There is an inequity here that folks with higher earnings can get incentives for solar,” Harckham said at a news conference.

The Senate included the measure — and several other incentives for renewable energy technologies — in its one-house budget. The bill would double the solar tax credit to $10,000 and make it refundable, as well as expand it to cover storage components. The Assembly included a proposal to exempt some storage projects from sales tax.

Walker said that the refund piece is key.

“This right here is a bill that helps out low-income families,” Walker said. “New York’s key residential solar incentive has not been accessible for those families for far too long. Making the tax credit refundable will correct that error and expand access to the benefits of solar energy for those who need it most.”

She said the Assembly prefers not to include policy in the budget, although the proposal has clear fiscal implications. The solar industry estimates the revenue impact would be about $31 million annually.

While the solar industry recently celebrated hitting 5 gigawatts of distributed solar in New York, with 1 gigawatt installed last year, installers are facing higher costs and declining incentives from NYSERDA.

“Deployment is a lagging indicator, “ said Noah Ginsburg, executive director of the New York Solar Energy Industries Association. “This is not a subsidy for our industry, it’s an incentive for homeowners.” — Marie J. French

TAX THE ULTRA-RICH: A group of Democratic lawmakers want to raise the taxes on the ultra-wealthy, roughly .3 percent of the state’s population. They also want to raise taxes for the most profitable corporations, roughly .1 percent of the state’s businesses.

“We know for a stable working class that we have to be able to have a place to live we have to have affordable transportation. We have to have education to get those jobs. We have to support our small businesses,” Assemblymember Anna Kelles said.

They lawmakers and coalitions believe that the hike would address the affordability crisis by investing the money back into health and safety programs.

“As we start wrapping up budget negotiations, we must stand strong to make billionaires and wealthy corporations pay their fair share so we can invest in our schools, build affordable housing, fully fund our hospitals, protect our environment, and uplift New York families," state Sen. Gustavo Rivera said in a statement. — Shawn Ness

HELPING CUNY STUDENTS: A New York City-based nonpartisan policy think tank is urging city and state officials to scale up programs that make it easier for CUNY students to transfer from community to four-year colleges — and eventually receive their degrees.

In a report today, the Center for an Urban Future pressed officials to expand access to academic support programs like CUNY Accelerate, Complete, Engage (ACE), which helps students earn their bachelor’s degree on time by providing them with services like academic advising, tuition scholarships, textbooks and transportation assistance.

They also called on leaders to launch a new CUNY Flex program to provide wraparound supports like a free Metrocard and advising to nontraditional students, including transfer, part-time and older students.

CUNY can also take some steps of its own, the think tank argued: create Transfer Success teams at each college to collect more data on transfer students’ experience and a new Transfer Academy to help faculty and administrators better understand transfer policies.

Though eight of every nine new community college students plan to transfer and complete at least a bachelor’s degree, only one in nine does so within six years, according to the report.

“Policymakers and elected officials need to double down on the evidence-based programs that are working to help these students — many of whom come from low-income backgrounds — successfully navigate the challenging transfer experience,” Jonathan Bowles, the think tank’s executive director, said in a statement. — Madina Touré

— An NYPD officer was fatally shot in Queens after making a vehicle stop. (Newsday)

— Rep. Jamaal Bowman contradicted his previous remarks after calling reports of Oct. 7 sexual assaults in Israel "propaganda." (POLITICO)

— The eligibility requirements for veterans to enroll in healthcare services has been expanded to include 23 new respiratory illnesses. (State of Politics)

Al Gore eulogizes his former running mate Joe Lieberman

lead image